Rush to Wolves! McCarthy sacking sparks stampede for manager's role

Steve Morgan has sparked a managerial stampede at Wolves after making a long-distance phone call to sack Mick McCarthy.

McCarthy, in charge for six years, paid the price for a return of 14 points from 22 games which culminated in a 5-1 home defeat by neighbours West Bromwich Albion on Sunday.

Within hours, chairman Morgan, who is on holiday, and chief executive Jez Moxey called an impromptu board meeting over the phone and decided McCarthy’s time was up.

There will be no shortage of candidates to replace McCarthy. Steve Bruce, Dave Jones, Gordon Strachan, Billy Davies, Paul Ince and Alan Curbishley are all believed to be interested.

Morgan, who is not ruling out an interim appointment, wants a new man in place for the trip to Newcastle in two weeks as Wolves strive for Barclays Premier League survival over the remaining 13 matches.

Morgan said: ‘We will move quickly to give the club the best possible chance to avoid relegation. We felt we had little choice. Mick and I have had several conversations.

‘We have made the decision regrettably but results have not been right.

‘Wolves are a great old club and we have to give ourselves a fighting chance.’

The owner has had a volatile relationship with McCarthy, and Moxey stepped in as peacemaker more than once, most notably in late 2009 when Wolves made 10 changes for the League game at Manchester United - their first season back in the top flight.

Humiliation: Wolves were beaten 5-1 by Black Country rivals West Brom on Sunday

McCarthy was in charge when Morgan bought the club from Sir Jack Hayward for £10 and was persuaded to stick with the manager during a poor spell last season, when Wolves stayed up on the final day.

Yet doubts lingered. Significantly, Morgan blocked January transfer moves for Freddie Piquionne, of West Ham, and Bolton striker Kevin Davies, although he did sanction a loan for Arsenal midfielder Emmanuel Frimpong, who is now out for the season with a knee injury.

Morgan also marched into the dressing room to berate the players after a 3-0 home defeat by Liverpool, which sparked another heated discussion with McCarthy, who led Wolves into the Premier League in 2009.

McCarthy felt he was being undermined and the writing was on the wall. Being drubbed by the neighbours and dropping back into the relegation zone convinced Morgan that McCarthy’s time was up and this time Moxey did not argue.

‘Mick has been an exemplary manager,’ said Moxey. ‘We are not a hiring and firing club but we had to arrest the decline.’

Final straw: McCarthy's side were on an alarming run of form

McCarthy cycled to work as usual yesterday and, following his sacking, went to the training ground to say his goodbyes.

He said: ‘I had six great years and I go with my head held high. I’m sad I’m leaving on a bad note after the game last night.

‘It’s been a privilege working here. Of course I’m emotional - I’ve left a lot of good friends in there. It’s onwards and upwards now.’

Wolves were unbeaten for the first four games of the season but summer signings Jamie O’Hara and Roger Johnson have failed to set the world alight, while making Johnson captain appears to have caused divisions in the camp.

O’Hara tweeted: ‘Gutted to see Mick go, done an amazing job here and everyone should be thankful… thank him so much for giving me the chance to play football every week, just sorry we cudnt of done better for him, fantastic manager and man.’